Government of the Eastern Asia Socialist Republic of Vietnam has embarked on a serious crack down of Nigerians resident in the country following a wave of anti-social and criminal activities reportedly being perpetrated by Nigerian immigrants.
THISDAY gathered that following the unabating criminal acts by Nigerians resident in the country, Vietnamese authorities had recently placed a blanket ban on Nigerian travellers entering the country, irrespective of whether such travellers are government officials and
businessmen who have genuine reasons or not.
Sources, including a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official in Abuja
disclosed that the Vietnamese authorities had also two
weeks ago summoned the Nigerian Ambassador in Hanoi,
the nation's capital, to officially protest what they consider
the unbecoming attitude of Nigerians and to intimate him of
plans to deport scores of Nigerians already in detention over
diverse criminal acts.
Impeccable sources told THISDAY that three Nigerians, who
attempted to smuggle themselves into Vietnam last month
were also arrested and are among those billed for
deportation any moment from now.
The patience of Vietnamese authorities reportedly snapped
following incessant cases of high profile crimes, including
drug peddling, sexual assault on Vietnamese ladies,
violent/bloody clashes between Nigerians and their
compatriots, street fighting, and immigration violations, among others.
A couple of weeks ago, a group of Nigerians were said to have murdered their compatriot in cold blood. Although the name of the victim could not be ascertained, a source told THISDAY that his family in Nigeria has been informed about the incident.
In December, a middle aged Nigerian was brutally attacked and seriously wounded for daring to challenge a fellow Nigerian who allegedly ripped him off of money sent to him from his parents in Nigeria.
The victim, THISDAY learnt, was given $2,500 by his parents in Nigeria, who heard about his financial straits in Vietnam through another Nigerian, who is said to be having an agency in Vietnam which he deploys into bringing Nigerians to that country.
Rather than deliver the money in full, the middleman was reported to have deducted $1000 as 'service charge' and delivered only $15000 to the owner. When confronted, he was said to have unleashed an army of thugs, who inflicted deep matchete cuts on the victim for daring to challenge him.
In Hochi Minh City, the commercial nerve centre of Vietnam where most of the Nigerian immigrants are living, THISDAY gathered that some Nigerians have registered companies with which they engage in luring their fellow compatriots back home to the Asian nation after being paid handsomely for their services.
On getting to Vietnam, with high hopes, the stark reality of the supposed economic Eldorado dawns on the Nigerian immigrants, who are fortunate to be allowed entry into the country, while others are arrested at the entry point to Vietnam, detained or deported immediately.
Those who find their way into the country soon discover that there are hardly any rewarding jobs. With labour being very cheap in the country, graduates are paid an average of about $200 a month.
React to our top story - Write your comments
Article Comments
(5 comments)
At times like this, we need a Rawlings to sanitize and clean up the society- what a shame that small and poor countries like Vietnam has the guts to insult a country that produced the likes of Achebe and Soyinka.
Akami Somegba
Liverpool,
England
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unless one is in the Nigerian diplomatic service,how does one become attracted to a poor country like Vietnam but for drug peddling? It is high time the Nigerian government developed an effective policy of life penalty for drug peddlers. Death penalty is the military alternative but ours is a civilian democracy and we need to know the difference.
by: Bankole Okuwa, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The wrath of God shall visit those Nigerians who derive joy in messing up the image of our beloved country.Despite the hard work from the Government restore the image of Nigeria internationally, Nigerians derive joy in Tanishing the image of Nigeria and making it difficult for descent and well meaning Nigerians to travel out. i know such perpetrators can't be left unpunished.
Daisy
Nigeria
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Worthless Nigerians - always giving the good hard workings Nigerians the bad name. I hope Yar'Adua can really crack down on these criminals. That is how some Nigerians has made us all unsafe in South Africa.
Emeka Ojiofor
Cape Town
South Africa
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wish they can execute all of those bad eggs giving the rest of us bad name - rubbish.
Mike - Boston, USA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Please keep comments relevant to the subject of the article.
- Submissions with inappropriate language will not be published
- All submissions subject to admin approval before publication
- Include first name only and city, state, province OR country of location at the end of your comments
Comments
